The arts advocacy organization Americans for the Arts has established a permanent emergency-relief fund to rebuild the arts in areas devastated by disaster.

The fund was created in light of Hurricane Katrina's impact on the Gulf Coast and its rich cultural heritage. The organization notes that the region has more than 24,000 arts-related businesses employing over 108,000 people.

Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, said in a statement, "The arts are a fundamental component in building vibrant and economically viable communities and our hope is that this permanent funding will help in rebuilding them as well."

The organization began the relief fund with $100,000 of its own; people who would like to make donations to the fund should go to www.americansforthearts.org for more information.